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' G. L. JAEGER.

Lev Water Indicator. No. 230,282. Patented July 20,1880.

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NITED STATES PATENT Orricri.

GUSTAV L. JAEGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOW-WATER IN olcp'ro R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,282, dated July 20,1880.

Application filed June 17, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV L. J AEGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Low-Water Indicators for Steam-Boilers,of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish an indicator which shallreportlow water in steamboilers by the agency of an extension-tube atany desired distance from the boiler.

My invention consists in the combination, with an expansion-tubeconnected to the boiler at the alarm-line, of two detent-arms firmlyconnected to said tube, a releasing-bar adapted tofit between andberetained bythe detent-arms when the expansion-tube is cold, and an alarmconnected to said releasing-bar, so that when the water in thesteam-boiler sinks beneath the alarm-line, andthe extension-tube becomesheated by the steam which enters into it, the releasing-bar, being nolonger retained by the detent-arms,drops out and the alarmis sounded. Apressure-gage attached to the expansiontube serves to indicate itsproper working condition, and with said expansion-tube is also combineda semaphoric signal.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1represents a side elevation of my indicator. Fig. 1* is a rear view ofthe same. Fig. 2 is a side view of a modification thereof. Fig. 3isadetached sectional view of one of the detent-arms when the same isarranged to form an alarm.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the letter A designates a tube, which connects with thesteam-boiler If) at the alarm-line-or, in other words, at the meanwater-levelso that when the water in the boiler is above this level saidtube is filled with water and its temperature is equal to that of thesurrounding atmosphere; but if the water in the boiler sinks below saidalarmline the tube A becomes filled with steam, whereby it is heated andcaused to expand. Said expansion-pipe A may be carried to any distancefrom the steam-boiler-for instance, to the office of the factory inwhich the boiler is used-and in order to indicate that the expansion isclear and in working order,I attach to its outer or upper end asteam-gage, G. If

the expansion-tube should become stopped up the steam-gage would fail toindicate any pressure, and. the disorder would be made manifest.

On the expansion-tube A are firmly secured two detent-arms or collars, DD, at a suitable distance apart and parallel ,to each other, and thesearms serve to retain the releasing-bar E. In order to effect thispurpose the releasingbar is of such a length that when theexpansion-tube is cold it (the releasing-bar) must be sprung in betweenthe detent-arms, but when the expansion-tube becomes lengthened by theheating-action of the steam, said releasing-bar drops out from betweenthe detent-arms.

In order to be able to insert the releasingbar it must be made of someelastic and flexible material, so that it can be readily bent and sprungin between the detent-arms, and said detent-arms may be made in the formof simple collars, as shown in Fig. 1., or in the form shown in Fig. 2,and they may be provided with notches a a, to receive the ends of thereleasing-bar, as shown in Fig. 2.

If desired, one of the detent-arms may be made hollow, and brought incommunication with the interior of the expansion-tube, as shown in Fig.3; and in this case the notch (0* is made deep enough to open into theinterior of the arm, and it forms the seat for the valveshaped head lfiof the releasing-bar E.

When the releasing-bar is in position the notch or opening (0* isclosed; but when the expansion-tube is lengthened by the heat of thesteam, and the releasing-bar drops' off, steam 'blows out of the openinga and produces an alarm.

In practice, however, I prefer to use for the alarm a common bell, F, asshown in Fig. l, or an alarm-clock, as shown in Fig. 2. The bell F isconnected to a spring, 0, which is fastened to the upper detent-arm orcollar, D. A strap, d, draws the bell inward toward the re leasing-barwhen this latteris securedbetween the detent-arms or collars, Fig. 1.When the releasing-bar drops off the spring 0 is released and the bellsounds.

If an alarm-clock is used the releasing-bar connects by suitablemechanism with the detent of the alarm mechanism, and as soon as thereleasing-bar drops out the alarm is sounded.

In orderto obtain an additional indication of the sinking of the waterin the boiler, I make use of a semaphoric signal, I, which becomesdisplayed by the expansion of the tube A, and is brought out of sightwhen the tube contracts. This signal I can be connected with theexpansion-tube A for operation there by by "arious mechanicalcontrivances, and in the example shown the signal is attached to an arm,a, mounted on a rock-shaft, f, to which motion is given by a rack, g,which is a fixture of the pressure-gage G, and meshes with a pinionmouuted on the shaft.

I am aware that alarm devices are well known, and that the principle ofoperating alarm devices by expansion or contraction is old and wellknown. 1 do not therefore claim such as my invention; but in alllow-wateriudicators which are operated by the action of anexpansiontube, and known to me, more or less complicated mechanism isrequired to produce the desired effect.

My releasing-bar can be applied to any pipe which has two couplings orcollars at a suitable distance apart, and by applying to theexpansion-tube a pressure-gage I am enabled to ascertain at any momentwhether the apparatus is in correct working order.

Another important feature of my invention is the semaphoric signal.

Vb-at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1.The combination, with an expansiontube connected to the boiler at thealarn'i-line, of two detent-arms or collars firmly connected to saidtube, a releasing-bar constructed to be sprung in between said arms orcollars when the expansion-tube is cold, and an alarm connected to saidreleasing-bar, all constructed to operate substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The, combinatiomwith an expansion-tube connected to the boiler at thealarm-line, of two detent-arms firmly connected to said tube, notchesformed in said arms, a releasing-bar constructed to engage with thenotches in the detent-arms, and an alarm connected to saidreleasing-bar, all constructed to operate substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with an expansion-tube connected to the boiler atthe alarm-line and with a pressure-gage fastened to said tube, of areleasing-bar connected to said tube andan alarm connected to thereleasing-bar, all constructed to operate substantially as and for thepurpose described.

4. The combination, in alow-Water indicator, of an expansiontube with asemaphoric signal, which is displayed by the expansion of the tube andbrought out of sight when the tube contracts, all being constructed tooperate substantial] y as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV L. JA'EGER. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER.

